Investigators still don”t know what caused the Tuesday evening fire that destroyed three buildings in Crossgates Apartments, damaged four others and displaced dozens of residents.

Accounts varied Wednesday on the number of residents displaced by the blaze. Oktibbeha County Red Cross Director Becky Wilkes said 31 residents have been displaced from their homes, while Crossgates property manager Christy Lee put the number at approximately 50. Other media reports claimed anywhere from 60 to 100 people were displaced.

Although three firefighters suffered minor injuries, fire officials say it very easily could have been worse. All residents were able to escape the fire unharmed and, even though buildings 19, 20 and 21 were destroyed, firefighters were able to “knock down” exterior flames and save two nearby structures, said Oktibbeha County Fire Services Coordinator Kirk Rosenhan. Two other buildings received smoke and heat damage.

More than 100 firefighters worked together to battle the blaze. The Starkville Fire Department and all seven volunteer fire departments in Oktibbeha County responded. Both of the SFD”s ladder trucks with elevated nozzles, each capable of spraying more than 300 gallons of water per minute, were used to fight the fire.

Starkville Fire Department Chief Rodger Mann credits the cooperative effort of the firefighters and the elevated nozzles for helping avoid a potential disaster.

“Luckily we were able to pull in enough resources and get enough assistance,” Mann said. “And had it not been for the city of Starkville being fortunate enough to have two ladder trucks with elevated nozzles, we night have been in trouble last night. We might have lost more buildings. It could have been a lot worse.”

One of the Crossgates residents displaced by the fire is Andy King, a Mississippi State University junior from Laurel, whose apartment was destroyed. King”s parents were at the apartment complex Wednesday as demolition crews removed the roof from his building.

King lost nearly everything he owned when his apartment was gutted by flames, including his school books and notes. He hopes to work with classmates and his professors to prepare for the rest of the semester and final exams.

When the fire began shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday, King was in worship at the Baptist Student Union. He then received a phone call about the fire from his roommate and rushed home.

“At first I didn”t really believe it,” King said. “Then I get there and I”m like, ”Wow. This is really happening.””

King”s parents heard about the fire Tuesday night and drove to Starkville Wednesday morning to see their son and help purchase any items he may need.

“We”re just glad he”s OK,” Sandra King said. “You can replace the stuff. You can”t replace people.”

The Oktibbeha County Red Cross is accepting food, clothes and monetary donations for victims of the blaze. Cowbell”s Sports Grill also will accept donations today from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Additionally, the Starkville Daily News is accepting donations at their office on Lampkin Street.

Mississippi State University has offered to let displaced residents stay temporarily in Herbert Hall, while Lee said empty units in the Crossgates complex also are available. Many of the displaced residents are staying with friends and family. MSU also has set up a relief fund for victims of the blaze. And the university is hosting a fundraiser Friday prior to the baseball game at Dudy Noble Field. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. for the 6 p.m. game, and there will be people on hand taking donations.

Lee, who spent much of the day Wednesday answering questions and phone calls from residents and parents, said she is glad to see the community working together to help Crossgates residents.

“We really appreciate the efforts of the community,” Lee said.

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